[Study on the relationship between CD44v6, p53 gene mutation and ovarian carcinoma metastasis]

To explore the relationship between CD44v6 expression, p53 gene mutation, cell ploidy and ovarian metastasis.

Eighty-five ovarian specimens (20 normal specimens, 20 benign tumors, 20 non-metastatic carcinomas and 25 metastatic carcinomas) were collected. Cell ploidy and the distribution of cell population in each stage of cell cycle were detected by flow cytometry. By using techniques such as reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, southern blot and image analysis, the quantitative and qualitative expression of CD44v6 were determined; the mutation of p53 gene in the ovarian specimens was also determined by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism with silver staining.

In the normal ovarian specimens, benign tumors, non-metastatic and metastatic carcinomas, the positive rates of CD44v6 expression and p53 gene mutation were 0%, 10%, 75%, 88% and 0%, 5%, 40%, 60%, respectively, both increased gradually. The mean dark density in the non-metastatic (3,820 +/- 289) and metastatic (10,132 +/- 1,521) groups was significantly different (P < 0.01). In the positive and negative CD44v6 ovarian carcinoma groups, the mean carcinoma cell percentage at the G2M stage was 5.90% and 5.06% (P > 0.05), mean aneuploidy carcinoma cell percentage was 57% and 50% (P > 0.05) respectively. In the mutated and non-mutated p53 gene groups, their mean cell population at the G2M stage was 11.15% and 5.85% (P < 0.05), mean aneuploidy carcinoma cell percentage was 74% and 36% (P < 0.05), respectively.

The expression of CD44v6 is closely related to carcinoma metastasis. The relationship between CD44v6 expression, p53 gene mutation and carcinoma metastasis can be involved in the different mechanism. As compared to mutated p53 gene, CD44v6 appears to be more suitable as a metastatic marker.